COLONEL SYKESsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What truth there is in the statement in the China Newspapers that our Ambassador in Japan, on a first visit of ceremony to the Mikado, or Emperor of Japan at Kioto, accompanied by a European escort, was attacked by Japanese and twelve of the escort wounded; and whether twelve of the crew of a boat belonging to the French ship of war Dupleix were assassinated on landing on the estate of Prince Losa, near Osaka, and what effect have these outrages had on the relations between the British and French Governments with that of the Emperor of Japan; and, whether the Mikado, or real Emperor of Japan, has ratified the Treaty we made with the Tycoon, or supposed Emperor?
LORD STANLEYIt is true that Sir Harry Parkes, on his way to pay a visit of 923 ceremony to the Mikado, accompanied by a mounted escort, was attacked by a party of Japanese fanatics, supposed to be only three or four in number. They took the escort by surprise, and wounded eight or nine persons, but it is hoped none of them mortally. I am bound to say that the Japanese authorities did everything that could possibly be expected of them, both in the way of exerting themselves to detect the offenders and making the apology due to our Ambassador; and they have gone so far as to promise compensation to the men injured in the event of any of them becoming permanently disabled. Therefore, however unfortunate the accident may have been, I think there is nothing in it which will in the slightest degree affect our present good relations with the Japanese Government. I understand also that the difference between them and the French Government, arising out of the murder of a boat's crew, has been amicably arranged. Within a few days of the time when the last despatches were sent off, Sir Harry Parkes received an envoy from the Mikado, who was authorized to express the Mikado's desire to cultivate friendly relations with Foreign Powers, and to take upon himself all the obligations of the Treaty we had made with the Tycoon.